Daring Damsels

A collector's set of stories of women who don't need saving

Project Overview

We cherish the books we encounter as young readers. As a member of a book club that's been ongoing for twenty years, I have often bought books to add to my collection and as gifts for others. How might a collection of beloved novels be packaged and sold as a gift set? What books would would be included in that collection, and who would be the target audience for such a set? How might we create a beautifully and lovingly crafted experience for readers, new and familiar alike?

Time

11 Weeks

Roles

Art Direction

Skills

Research
Illustration
Lettering

Tools

Procreate
InDesign
Photoshop

Audience

This special edition collection is intended for two main market segments. First, it is a nostalgic collection that adults would purchase and add to their own libraries; these are books that they read as young adults, and remember lovingly. This audience would also likely purchase the set for their bookish friends with similar literary tastes and memories. The second target market segment is young adults who are reading these books for the first time.

This set is intended as a gift item. It would be sold at stores like Barnes and Noble, or other stores that have crafted gifts, such as Anthropologie or Crate and Barrel.

Process

I began by polling my reader friends about what books they would like to see in a limited edition set, and looking through my shelves to determine which were most cherished. It was important for the books to be thematically related and feature female protagonists and authors. For the book design, each cover would need to topically represent the novel and tie together as a cohesive set.

For the first book, I chose Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt. I began by happily rereading the novel and taking notes on characters, plot point, and visual details. After determining several important themes, I began thumbnail sketching.

Finalizing

After critique and feedback, I decided to move forward with a tree going through each season and the lettering as an intricate central medallion. I continued to refine the sketch, and ultimately finalized the book cover. The cover illustration and lettering was drawn and refined in Procreate.

Developing the Set

I followed this process, from reading and note taking, to brainstorming, to thumbnailing and refining for the remaining books. By starting with Tuck Everlasting, I established elements that created cohesion throughout the collection. These included an organic line quality, the author nameplate, a quote on the back cover, and the spine treatment. I selected Ella Enchanted as the second novel in the set, because it features a young woman caught between what is proper and finding herself. The Ella Enchanted cover brings out flowing, organic lines through the use of a soft ribbon motif and the swirls of the mask's filigree.

A Third Book

Including Ella Enchanted firmly solidified the overarching themes of this set as magical and empowering. I selected Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede for the third book. The book is about a young woman who tires of being a princess and strikes out on her own; she's independent and strong, and does not need to be saved. I carried the feeling of magic and flowing lines through in this cover, particularly in the fire damask background.